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Causes of the American Revolution
Students recognize the taxation of the American colonists by the British led to the revolution. They participate in or analyze a performance of an 18th-century song and then discuss its meaning and craft.
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Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...
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A Character's Perspective - Colonial House
Students write letters as colonists. In this point-of-view lesson, students watch a video about Colonial America, fill out a character development worksheet, and participate in a class discussion. Then students write a letter...
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Geography and Its Impact on Colonial Life
Middle schoolers interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this colonial America lesson, students conduct research to determine how geographic conditions dictated settlement...
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Colonial America
Fourth graders explore Internet sites about Colonial America, and create multimedia presentations.
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The Declaration of Independence and Your Own Rights
Students read and discuss the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments. They discuss how the rights of the colonists and women were being violated. Students write about their own personal rights and how their rights...
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Crispus Attucks and the Boston Massacre
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Boston Massacre lesson plan, students listen to a lecture regarding the massacre and Crispus Attucks. Students respond to...
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The American Revolution: A Chain Reaction
Young scholars explore cause and effects in American History and developments leading up to the American Revolution. In groups, students are given strips of paper with one historical event listed on each sheet. They place the...
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The Road to Democracy
Eleventh graders examine the road to the American Revolution. In this American Revolution instructional activity, 11th graders read Thomas Paine's works and identify the issues that the colonists had with the British government.
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"Pray, Why Speakest Thou Thusly?"
Examine popular language and slang and how they have changed over the course of American history. Conduct Internet research, use an online interactive Colonial House website to translate 17th century language into 21st century language,...
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Education in Colonial New England
Fifth graders examine schooling now and in New England Colonies. In this compare and contrast lesson, 5th graders describe schools of the present to schools of the past. Students also investigate the goals of schooling and the part...
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A River, Dead or Alive: Native Americans and European Colonists' Treatment of a River
Students write an expository paragraph about the uses of the Nashua River for the Native Americans and the European Colonists. In this river uses lesson plan, students determine the causes and effects of both parties using the river.
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The Battle of Bunker Hill: Now We Are at War
Students what events in Massachusetts in 1775 demonstrated colonial opposition to Imperial rule. They examine the events related to the Battle of Bunker Hill and determine the differences in the land masses of Charlestown and Boston from...
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Causes of the American Revolution
Fifth graders investigate the causes of the American Revolution. They explore how political, religious, and economic ideas and interests brought about the Revolution (e.g., the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, taxes on tea, coercive Acts)....
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Migration and Immigration in the United States: Three Case Studies
Students examine the early migration of Native Americans, African Americans, and the British Colonists. They conduct Internet research, complete a timeline, label maps, compare/contrast the three groups' experiences, and write an essay.
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Gather the Stones!
Review how gristmills affected the lives of the Pennsylvania community. The class uses documents and pictures to explore the purpose of the gristmill. They simulate members of the community and write a paper about colonial forces...
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The Mayflower Compact
Fourth graders explore the events leading up to the Mayflower Compact. In this government lesson, 4th graders have a teacher-led class discussion on the importance of government, then complete a worksheet on the topic.
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Livelihood of the Times
Students recognize the importance of analyzing historical information and data. In this historical analysis lesson, students collect information for a bar graph, complete a jobs worksheet and define vocabulary.
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The Stamp Act Effect
Sixth graders examine the Stamp Act. For this Stamp Act lesson, 6th graders analyze documents surrounding the Stamp Act. Students determine the reasons, oppositions and impacts of the Stamp Act and organize this information on a chart....
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Immigration to the Golden Land: Jewish Life in America
Students examine waves of Jewish immigration during three time periods and analyze a variety of primary sources, including letters, memoirs, and laws, to gain insight into both the American immigrant experience and American society...
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Change the Face of History
Middle schoolers create and write a "Choose Your Own Adventure" story as they investigate the Revolutionary War. They choose a historical figure who played a key role in the war who meets other influential figures and has the opportunity...
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Bison on the Plains
Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by reading assigned text about American Indians. In this migration lesson plan, 5th graders identify the differences between Native Americans and European settlers who traveled through middle America...
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Happy Endings: The Final Battle
Fifth graders explore all the myths of the battle of Yorktown. A variety of primary documents are viewed and analyzed for discussion. They become aware that what one sees and hears is not always as it seems in reality. Each group...
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Will the Real Samuel Adams Please Stand Up
Students participate in a "To Tell The Truth" game show activity in order to determine the role of Sam Adams in the Revolutionary events that took place in the Boston area. They ask questions of three students posing as Sam Adams to...